Tag Archives: tiramisu

Now that’s a tasty meatball!!!!

Now, if you’ve been to Little Italy lately, you might be going “Dude, where’s all the Italian food?” Other than a few places right around College and Clinton, it’s pretty hard to find some real-deal Italian in the neighbourhood. So when I heard about Quadro Ristorante, this funky joint that opened on College, just east of Clinton, a couple years back, you KNOW we had to check it out, bro! And since this place is serving up five meatballs for $16.50, I think I know what I’m gonna order…

Dude, these balls are magically delicious, bro! You’ve got a nice mix of beef and veal, served in tomato sauce with some basil and grated cheese — yes please! The meatballs are tender, juicy, and really soak up the sauce… but you KNOW that’s just a light snack in Flavourtown!!!!

Now, this place might be more of a pizza place, with their real-deal, wood-fired oven in the kitchen. But me, I’m going gnocchi. I’ve got three words for you: wild boar bolognese, bro!!!! I gotta say though, this seemed like a pretty small portion, and not just because it came in a giant bowl. I’m definitely still gonna have room for dessert…

Now, we’ve had our share of tiramisu on Triple B, but I don’t think I’ve had one before where you get the ladyfingers on top. But this was still pretty, pretty good, tasting just like tiramisu should — so I really can’t complain…

Also, I got the chance to check another Italian beer off the bucket list. Sure, you can get a Peroni or a Moretti here (and I think they even have Stella), but instead I’m gonna go with a Semedorato. I had never even heard of this beer before, bro — but to be honest, it pretty much tastes like Peroni (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Dude, these are the biggest tortelli I’ve ever seen, bro…

So, we’re hanging out at Piano Piano, this funky little Italian joint that just opened up south of King Street, right where Hogtown Smoke used to be. But while this place might be brand new, we’re no strangers to Piano Piano’s OG location on Harbord, having scarfed down a massive Summerlicious meal in 2019 and ordered veal parm to go in ’21. Although, I’ve never had any of their pasta before, so now it’s time to check it off the bucket list…

But first we’re starting off with some croquettes alla vodka. Dude, anything deep-fried in vodka sauce has gotta be good, and these bad boys are no exception! These round mounds of Flavourtown are stuffed with prosciutto, potato, Fontina, ‘nduja and dusted with a little Parmesan on top. Mamma mia!!!!

Now, when they brought out the tortelli con bolognese, I was like “You sure that’s not ravioli, bro?” I mean, they do have egg yolk ravioli on the menu, although that dish is vegetarian, while this one clearly comes with meat sauce. But without the sauce, I’m not sure you could tell them apart — they’re both stuffed with ricotta, cooked in brown butter and dusted with parm. Apparently the ravioli are even bigger than these four-bite babies, though… they’re so big, they only come two to an order!!!

I was slightly worried about what they called on the menu Nutella Tiramisu. That’s not how Nonna makes it, fratello! But the layer of hazelnut spread only adds to the traditional tastes of coffee, cocoa and marscapone. I give it three smashed plates outta four!!!!

MUCH MORE MUNICH: Can I eat on your magic bus?

Dude, Magic Bus is like my third favourite Who song (Baba O’Reilly FTW!), so when I heard that Munich had its own magic food bus — a modified school bus called DinnerHopping with a built-in bar that takes you to three different local restaurants for a three-course meal, I was all over that like Keith Moon on Heminevrin, bro!

Now, it just so happened to be Italian night when I booked, and since Germany’s a lot closer to Italy than Toronto, I was really curious to see whether things would be more authentic here than back home in Il Gran Fumado…

The first course, from a place called Ristorante Ottantanove, is beef carpaccio…. and there’s more than enough to go around! Beef had a nice chew, topped with grated parm and shredded mozz, plus some arugula for colour. Not too sure about the cheese on top, but anytime you can start a meal with beef, you KNOW it’s gonna be a good day, bro!!!!!!

While I don’t usually talk about bread, I like how even the Italian restaurants over here tie their bread rolls into little pretzels, hahaha. Dude, this is body by soft pretzels…and they are everywhere in Munich!!!!

But now it’s time for the main event, seafood risotto from Trattoria Il Cigno. You’ve got fish, mussels and shrimp on a nice, creamy bed of rice. Portion looks a little small, but there’s plenty of mussels to go around, and I managed to shuck the shrimp successfully, which really kicked things up a notch. I don’t usually go for risotto, but I’d put this dish up with any seafood pasta I’ve had in Toronto, bro!!!!

For dessert, you KNOW I’m having tiramisu, bro! Vi Vadi Rustico is maybe not making it 100% like Nonna, but they do it up right. Yes, there is chocolate sauce drizzled on the plate and a random fruit garnish, but the espresso, marscapone and ladyfingers are on point. Questionable flourishes aside, this tiramisu is quite tasty!

Of course, you KNOW this ain’t Burgers, Bacon and Pinot Grigio, bro! The only beer on board was Erdinger Helles, which wasn’t bad…it kinda reminds me of Labatt Blue. But man, after slamming some killer wheat beer for like 4.50 Euros at a grocery store, let’s just say that Munich can do much better…

On the tour, they charge an extra fee for beer (I think it was like 13 Euros) on top of the cost of the food. I mean, you could stick with soda, but why??? Now, I dunno how many beers you’re supposed to get for that price, but I had like 5 and they didn’t cut me off, so I’d say I got my money’s worth!!!!

Too much linguine? No, not really…

Now, I would ride or die with Clint Eastwood, bro, but if he ever asks this fat fuck to climb a fence, my answer’s gonna be “Too much linguine.” Good thing that at Enoteca Sociale, this “Funky spot offering Italian small plates” (couldn’t have said it any better myself!) you don’t get too much linguine when you order. I still ain’t climbing no fence, though!!!!!

Speaking of small plates, their arancini only come one to an order — I guess that makes it arancino? But hey, it was still a nice, hot ‘n cheesy rice ball… I guess for six bucks, you wouldn’t get more than one, eh?

When it comes to their squid ink linguine (linguine nero di seppia), the ball of pasta is more than a little bit bigger than an arancino. It also comes with some nice bites of snow crab and a whole lotta zucchini. But I think I finished this thing in like six or seven bites — let’s just say I definitely still had room for dessert!

And when I’m eating Italian, you KNOW I’m having tiramisu for dessert, bro! I was making hand gestures when I saw them bring it out in a coffee cup, but even if it’s not how Nonna wouldda served it, the flavours here are still on point.

And speaking of Italian flavours, this Figo Italian-Style Pilsner hit the spot. Too bad I had already finished my pasta by the time it arrived at the table (it was my second beer of the evening), so I can’t tell you how it paired with the linguine…

Goin’ all Guy Fieri on fish and pasta @ Fieramosca!!!

May 20, 2022
greedocatucci
0 comments
Fieramosca, Italian food, pasta, seafood, tagliatelle, tiramisu

Dude, you KNOW this is body by Italian food, bro! So when I heard about Fieramosca Trattoria, this funky little joint on a side street just a meatball’s throw away from St. George, I definitely had to check it out! This place has been dishing out Italian classics since 1980, so you know it’s gotta be good. And while there’s no shortage of pizza, pasta and meat dishes on the menu — they’ve even got not one, not two, but three different versions of veal scaloppini –we decided to go with the Grigliata Mista di Pesce, aka grilled seafood platter:

You won’t miss Meat Mountain when you’ve got this smorgasbord of seafood, son! There’s three different kinds of fish here — salmon, halibut AND sea bream — plus calamari and tiger shrimp, along with a whole lotta potatoes, peppers, green beans and two baby carrots. Dude, this is enough food to feed at least two people…and since I actually shared this dish, I still had room for pasta:

I am sooooo trippin’ balls over this mushroom tagliatelle, bro! You’ve got three kinds of shrooms — oyster, porcini AND shitake — on top of thick, chewy noodles in a white wine cream sauce. Shut the front, back and side doors!!!!!!!!

But you KNOW we’ve still got room for dessert, bro! This leaning tower of tiramisu tastes just like Nonna makes it — except maybe for that chocolate sauce swirl around the outside. But that didn’t stop me from scarfing it all down, son!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The biggest osso buco I’ve ever eaten @ Eataly

Now, we’re no strangers to osso buco here on Triple B — whether they’ve serving it up on a patio in Yorkville or way west on King West. But when I heard that Trattoria Milano, this funky little joint inside of Eataly, had an osso buco so big, it was enough food for four people… you KNOW I had to check it out, bro!!!!!!

But first, we’re chowing down on some deep-fried meatballs. These mondeghili are a Milanese specialty, and I gotta say, these were some of the most tender balls I’ve ever put in my mouth. Stay away from that candied fruit though — that yellow stuff was surprisingly, ridiculously spicy!!!!

But now it’s time for the main event…

I gotta say, I was expecting this meat to be super, fall-apart tender like a lamb shank — or some of the other osso buco I’ve had before. It was a little tougher, and I definitely needed a fork and knife here, but it was still pretty tasty. Oh, and while this dish was supposed to be for four, it only took three members of the Triple B Krew to polish if off, son!!!!!!

And you KNOW we still had room for dessert…

Now, their tiramisu was pretty small, and they put in a mason jar like some friggin’ trendy hipsters. But it was still very, very good — rich ‘n creamy with just enough of a coffee kick. And hey, since Eataly is a grocery store, you can also buy a full-sized one to take home…as long as you finish eating before they close. (My bad, bro!)

And since this blog ain’t Burgers, Bacon & Burgundy, we’re drinking the closest thing to wine…that’s still a beer. Vine Song 1 is an Italian grape ale saison from Indie Alehouse that they sell downstairs, and it’s definitely got that sour tartness of white wine, while being a little more hangover friendly at 8% alcohol. Dude, Imma hafta bring a couple of these next time I go to a wine and cheese soiree!!!

Wild boar pizza + sea urchin spaghetti @ Dova

Now, we’ve eaten a whole lotta Italian food here on Triple B — but every once in a while, I still come across something I’ve never seen before. So we’re hanging out at DOVA, this funky little joint in Cabbagetown, where they’re putting sea urchin on spaghetti, wild boar and black truffle on pizza, and orange mascarpone in their tiramisu. Shut the front, back and side doors, son!!!!!

They call this dish Ricci, and it’s got a helmet like former San Jose goon Mike Ricci. Underneath is some fresh Newfoundland sea urchin, on top of spaghetti, all covered in garlic and parsley. Now, I don’t think I’ve ever had sea urchin before — especially not from Newfoundland — but it added a nice creamy touch to the spaghetti.

But now they’re about to kick things up another notch with their Fughese pizza — and you don’t even hafta be straight edge to eat it, Bro-an MacKaye! Dude, this pizza’s packing wild boar sausage, black truffles, oyster mushrooms and arugula, plus it’s extra cheesy with fior di latte AND stracciatella! Dude, this has gotta be the best pizza I’ve had all year, and let’s just say I eat a lotta pizza…

And since we’re not straight edge here on Triple B, we’re washing this all down with a funkalicious brewski. This here’s a Raspberry Lavender Gelato Sour from Fine Balance Brewing straight outta Kingston. Now, i dunno what lavender tastes like, but you definitely get a lotta raspberry in here — it’s like a tropical fruit punch in Flavourtown!!!

Of course we’ve still got room for dessert — and it’s probably safe to say at a place like this, they don’t do tiramisu just like Nonna makes it. Instead, you’ve got orange mascarpone, Cointreau liqueur, candied oranges and pistachios. It wasn’t bad, but I mostly just tasted the orange, bro…

Oodles of octopus @Joso’s

Restaurants are now back to full capacity in Toronto, so we’re hanging out at Joso’s, this legendary local Italian seafood joint at Av & Dav dating back to 1967, son! This place is one of Drake’s favourite restaurants, so you know it’s gotta be good — he’s even got his own special chair upstairs — but we had actually never been here before despite living in Toronto for quite a while. Time to check this one off the bucket list, John Bro-tucci!!!!

Now, Joso’s doesn’t actually have an appetizer section on its menu, but that doesn’t mean you can’t order some mains as starters — at main course prices, mind you. These Grilled Gamberoni come four to an order, some decent-sized prawns cut in half and served in the shell with lemon, garlic and a bit of butter. Can’t go wrong with any of that, son!

But one of the main draws at this place, aside from the market-priced whole fish, is this dish — Octopus Schiavona. Schia-what-now? I have eaten octopus more than a few times before, but never served like this, steamed and thinly sliced with olive oil, capers and olives. It’s almost more like octopus poke, but with a prettier presentation. And I can’t really complain about the portion size…

Now, if I’m eating at an Italian joint, you KNOW I’m gonna be judging them on their tiramisu — and this one totally passed the test! It was super moist, almost creamy even, with a nice dusting of cocoa poweder. Only questionable thing was the whipped cream on the side… I didn’t have to eat it, but I couldn’t just leave it sitting there, y’know?

I’ll be porking my troubles away with this pork chop…

Right now, the Raptors are only allowing 500 fans inside Scotiabank Arena, making it the toughest ticket in town. But it’s much easier to get a seat at Aria Ristorante, this funky Italian joint that’s so close to the arena, you can watch the game on the giant screen in Jurassic Park, son!!!

The price of admission starts at 25 dollars for Il Frito, a tasty plate of fried calamari and shrimp, served with a smoked tartar sauce. I’m not used to eating shrimp with their heads on, but like John Daly says, just grip it and rip it, bro!!!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. We’re talking 12 ounces of Berkshire pork chop tomahawk, with swiss chard, smoky bacon and sour cherries. Dude, this pork is cooked to perfection, and when you get a little bite of bacon in there, too, that’s the ticket — although it still won’t get you into the game, bro. 😦 😦 😦

Just as the Raptors are putting a hurtin’ on the Atlanta Hawks, we’re putting the finishing touches on this meal with a real-deal tiramisu, topped with chunks of chocolate, and three fully intact ladyfingers out back. For dessert, it was either this or cannoli — I think I made the right choice. 😛

Off the hook-o osso buco @ Caffino, bro!!!

You know me, this is body by Italian food! So when I heard about Caffino, this funky little joint that’s been dishing out real-deal Italian classics on King St since 1996, I was all over that like tomato sauce on pasta, son!!!

Speaking of tomato sauce, this first course is really swimming in it. We’re talking homemade polenta stuffed with Gorgonzola, topped with sausage and baked in tomato sauce — these are a few of my favourite things, bro!!!!

But now it’s time for the main event. This veal osso buco is super-tender, braised in red, red wine and served on top of a creamy risotto with peas and Parmesan. They even give you the bone marrow, bro!!!

But you KNOW we’ve still got room for dessert — and it’s no surprise that the first thing on their dessert menu is tiramisu. This classic Italian dolce is nice ‘n creamy, sprinkled with cocoa for that extra kick. Mamma mia!!!

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